Self-tightening clip for applying sheathing to metallic members



June 13, 1939. 5 3, GREULlCH 2,162,303

SELF-TIGHTENING CLIP FOR APPLYING SHEATHING TO METALLIC MEMBERS Filed Sept. 28, 1938 FIG. 1.

I? 653,440 5, @e /L/CH,

Patented June 13, 1939 unrrso STATES SELF-TIGHT'ENING CLIP FOR APPLYING BREATHING TO METALLIQ MEMBERS Gerald G. Greuiich, Mount Lebanon, Pa.

Application September 28, 1938, Serial No. 232.204

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to building structures and, more particularly, to a self-tightening clip for applying wooden or other type of sheathing to metallic beam members.

An object of the present invention is to provide a self-tightening clip for obtaining a permanent, tightly clamped, engagement between structural members and sheathing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a self-tightening clip so constructed and arranged that the sheathing to which it is attached may'be rigidly and permanently fastened to structural members by a single fastening device.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds and reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is aplauv of the clip of the present invention, showing its manner of attachment to a no structural beam member;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view, looking from the right of Figure 2 to show the doubled-back portion of the clip: Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure -2, showing a the position of the clip after the nail has been driven into the sheathing: and,

Figure 5 is an end view, looking from the right of Figure 4.

The self-tightening clip of the present invention is so formed from a sheet blank as to produce a main body I having laterally extending integral flanges at each end thereof. forming clamping members 3. Flangw 4 adjacent each end of said main body are bent downwardly at right angles thereto for abutting the edge or side of thesheathing, while a flange I, centrally located of said main body 2, is bent upwardly at right angles tothe main plane thereof to abut the adjacent sheathing member.

As shown in Figure 2, the main body'is bent or doubled-back .upon itself to provide a folded portion l between the ends thereof. This folded portion; U is provided with a plurality of aligned openings! through which is adapted to pass a nail or other securing member 8. The openings 1 in the two upper folds are elongated to provide a limited movement of main body 2 so that upon impact upon the nail or securing member 8, the folded portion 8 of said main body will be compressed from a position shown in Figure 2 to the position .shown in Figure 4, the clamping members I are moved inwardly toward each other 55 until the grooved or inclined portions 3' of said clamping members tightly ensase the iiange of the structural member i2.

In applying the clip, the main body 2 is placed over the top or edge of the sheathing II with the flanges 4 contacting the side of said sheathing g and the right hand clamping member I positioned upon the flange of said structural member, after which, the nail or securing member 8 is inserted through the aligned openings in the doubled-back or folded portion I and driven perlo pendicuiarly into said sheathing ll until the folded portion t is comprused in an relation, as shown in Figure 4, which action results in moving the left hand flanged member I to the right due to the elongated openings in the I two upper folds so as to securely engage the clamping members with the flange of the structural beam member. After this operation is completed, an adjacent sheathing member II is then placed in position upon the main body I and in an engagement with the upwardly extending flange I, and secured thereto by driving a nail or other securing member through the opening I in order to securely retain said sheathing member upon the structural beam member.

The construction of the present invention, as hereinabove described, offers many advantages over the clips now in use. It is the usual practice to use a flat clip which is secured to the edge of the sheathing by nails and the like and which, so

when so secured, extends beyond the inner edge of the sheathing in a portion which is provided. adjacent and parallel to this edge, with a V- shaped slot designed to produce a wedge-engagement with one side of the structural beam outer 35 flange. This construction requires an additional clip for the other side of the beam flange. Under such a construction, the permanency of such an attachment is subject to variable performance of the person making the installation and, should 40 the slotted portion of the clipv be engaged with the beam flange in any other than a perpendicular position with respect thereto, the sheathing attached to the clip will not be rigid. However, under the present construction, these objections 45 are overcome and there is provided a self-tightening clip whereby sheathing may be rigidly and permanently secured to metallic beam members in an economical manner.

While I have shown and described specific em- 50 bodiments of the present invention, it will be seen that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

brought into engagement wth the flange of the v structural member to rigidly interlock said clip thereto.

2. A self-tightening clip for attaching sheathing to structural members comprising a main body member. laterally extending flanges formed on each end of said body member. said main body member having a portion doubled-back upon ltself between the ends thereof. aligned openings formed in said doubled-back portion. means for attaching said main body member to a sheathing member. said end flanges adapted to rigidly interlock with the flange of a structural member when said doubled-back portion of said main body member is compressed.

3. A selftightening clip for attaching sheathing to structural members comprising a main thereof. aligned openings in said doubied-back' portion. means for securing said clip to a sheathing member. said end flanges rigidly interlocking with the flange of a structural member when said doubled-back portion is compressed in securing the clip to said sheathing.

4. A self-tightening clip for attaching sheathihg to structural members comprising a main body, laterally extending flanges formed on each end of said main body. said main body provided with a doubled-back portion between the ends thereof. flanges formed on said main body at right angies'to the plane thereof. aligned openings in said doubled-back portion. means for securing said clip to a sheathing member. said end flanges rigidly interlocking with the flange of a structuralmember when said doubled-back portion is compressed in securing the clip to said sheathing. and means for securing sheathing to one of said right-angled flanges.

GERALD G. GREULICH. 

